Bang the Drum Slowly

Bang the Drum Slowly. 1973 Paramount Pictures.
Starring: Michael Moriarty, Robert De Niro, Vincent Gardenia, Phil Foster, Danny Aiello
Director: John D. Hancock
Available from Amazon as a single DVD, or as part of the Game Night Collection.

This is reportedly Al Pacino's favorite movie, and it was the first film appearance for Danny Aiello.

Bang the Drum Slowly was adapted for the screen from the book of the same name by Mark Harris, and it had been previously adopted for television in 1956 starring Paul Newman.

Pitcher Henry Wiggen (Moriarty) and catcher Bruce Pearson (De Niro) are teammates on the New York YankeesMammoths. Pearson, a hayseed from Georgia, is not accepted by his team when he first joins. The attitudes of the team, and especially Wiggen changes after Pearson is diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, which means that this season is going to be his final one.

Highly recommended. If you liked Brian's Song, you'll certainly enjoy this one.